Most importantly, choose a market that aligns with your goals!

While you may be eligible for a tax exclusion of up to $250,000 ($500,000 if married) on the sale of your primary residence, any period during which the property was used as a rental is considered "nonqualified use."

So while the inventory is much lower (less properties to choose from for picky retail buyers), it's usually the best time for investors to negotiate a deal. 

I could roll over those amounts into another Roth IRA of my choosing.

Originally, I was hoping to have the property owner hold the property while I take the agricultural property through the feasibility study and rezoning to have paper lots approved by the city I choose to annex the property into.    

If I had been talking to you before the closing I would have recommended that you choose the 2-1 buy down, which would lower your rate by 2% ($500/mo) in the first year and 1% ($250/mo) in year two.

The cost of title insurance is dependent on (1) the state the property is located in (2) the amount being insured (3) whether insurance was recently purchased from the same insurer, (4) the exclusions in the policy.  

Your options in this case are to:Decline their application.Accept them without references and take the risk, assuming everything else about them is stellar.Require a co-signer.Require an additional security deposit if that is allowed in your specific state.The option many landlords choose is No. 2: Accept them without references, asking for an additional security deposit.

Which option will you choose, which one will be cheaper from a long-term perspective?

Where did you end up choosing?